GLENDALE, Ariz. -- What dreadful December?

Ol' Billy Stewart, as the interim head coach of a once-fragile West Virginia football team calls himself, shepherded the underdog Mountaineers last night to a rousing, romping, Fiesta Bowl triumph that likely imbued positive feelings -- for the first time in a month -- from Wheeling to Bluefield, from pandhandle end to panhandle end. Wild, wonderful indeed: West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28.

So much for losing to Pitt, losing Rich Rodriguez to a place called The Big House, losing face in a prolonged coaching search and a fall from national-championship contention to No. 11 in The Associated Press poll and No. 9 in the Bowl Championship Series computer poll. These feisty Mountaineers (11-2) may well land in the Top 5 for the second time in three years and puff their chests for a third consecutive bowl triumph. All because they thumped the third-ranked Sooners squad, who had staked a distant national-title claim when it dispatched then-No. 1 Missouri on the same Dec. 1 that West Virginia lost its outright bid in a 13-9 humiliation by its four-touchdown-underdog rival.

Coach Stew, as the players refer to him, was borne aloft by the Mountaineers in the end and was guaranteed by West Virginia President Mike Garrison a place on the West Virginia staff, though there was no promise about an interview or a head-coaching chance.

"I would cherish the opportunity to be the head coach at the state university," the homespun Mountain State man said afterward. "I have not, will not, politic for the job. They gave me the marching orders to get this team ready, and that's what we did."

"I'll talk to Bill whenever the guy wants to talk," Garrison said afterward of a potential interview.

Of the coaching search, he added, "We'll do it quickly. But we want to celebrate this. [The players] deserve this."

Even Gov. Joe Manchin took part in the on-field celebration at University of Phoenix Stadium: "Under Bill Stewart and the coaches, everybody rallied. I've never been so impressed with a group of young men in my life. It doesn't get any bigger than this, does it?"

Indoors in the desert last night, offensive player of the game Patrick White rushed for 150 yards, freshman Noel Devine had two touchdown runs among his 108 yards in the absence of tailback Steve Slaton (ankle), and receiver Darius Reynaud scored twice before a sellout crowd of 70,016, easily one-third of it giddy West Virginia fans.

The Mountaineers tied the program record with a third consecutive bowl triumph, last achieved in their first three: the 1922 East-West plus the 1938 and 1949 Suns. In between, they went 6-15 for a humdrum holiday-season record. For Oklahoma (11-3), it was their fourth BCS bowl loss in a row.

The frustrated Sooners never seemed to match, or catch, these speedy Mountaineers, who dashed off big, big plays of: 20, 20, 57 (Owen Schmitt's touchdown), 51, 34, 21 (Reynaud's first touchdown), 42, 30 (Reynaud again), 65 (Devine's) and, in the largest reception and scoring catch in West Virginia bowl history, 79 yards (Tito Gonzales). Their 525 offensive yards set a new program bowl high.

"This one's sweeter," said nose guard Keilen Dykes, part of a defense that sacked ballyhooed quarterback Sam Bradford three times and allowed Oklahoma one offensive touchdown through three quarters. Reed Williams, with nine tackles and two sacks, was chosen defensive player of the game, even though Woodland Hills' Ryan Mundy topped the team with 11 tackles and Johnny Dingle seemed unstoppable.

Kicker-punter Patrick McAfee gave them a 6-0 lead after missing his fourth consecutive field-goal try. The offense shook loose soon after, with the fullback Schmitt's 57-yard romp around right end -- behind first-time starter Stephen Maw at right tackle -- igniting a run of big-play touchdowns, two each by Reynaud and Devine.

The past month, White said, "it made us stronger. It was an unfortunate situation, but I think it's going to work out for the best."

For Stewart? The players endorsed him. "He deserves the head-coaching job," White said. "All the players respect him, all the players love him. You couldn't ask for a better guy to lead us today."

"Yeah, he should get it," Schmitt added. "If that wasn't a job interview, I don't know what is. "

And to win such a burdensome game after that woeful month.